The City of Newport Beach has declared a local emergency after methane gas was discovered seeping from an abandoned oil well beneath a home on the Balboa Peninsula, prompting an evacuation order for nearby residences on Thursday morning.
Officials said the gas was detected Wednesday evening at a property in the 3600 block of Marcus Avenue and is believed to be caused by oil intrusion from an abandoned private oil well located beneath the home.
City officials said they were initially contacted by the homeowners, who had noticed visible oil on their property for some time. When crews responded Wednesday evening, they detected methane gas in the home’s courtyard walkway.
Following consultations with public safety and utilities officials, the city issued an emergency evacuation order for the affected property and several adjacent homes. The Fire Marshal determined the situation posed a fire hazard, and the home where the methane was detected has since been red-tagged. Surrounding properties were evacuated as a precaution.
“Our top priority is the safety of residents and our neighborhoods,” City Manager Grace Leung said in a statement. “We are taking swift action to protect the public while closely assessing the situation and coordinating with partner agencies.”
City firefighters and public safety crews responded after detecting the presence of methane gas and oil near the home. As a precaution, officials say they are working to safely vent the well to release any accumulated gas. Once that process is complete, nearby residents may be allowed to return home. In the long term, the well will need to be permanently capped to prevent future methane leaks.
The emergency proclamation grants Newport Beach expanded authority to secure the area, expedite response operations, and access additional resources if needed.
City officials said they are actively working with state and regulatory agencies to determine the source and extent of the oil seepage.
Officials said situations like this are uncommon in Newport Beach, but the city is coordinating with state regulators to monitor the site and ensure public safety.
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